Metal-folding machine



(N0 Mddel.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. J. WITTEBOLLE.

METAL FOLDING MACHINE.

Patented June 30, 1896. ,57{,%x 9

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

B. J. WITTEBOLLE. METAL FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 562,877. Patented June'30, 189 6.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets -Sheet 4.

E. J WITTEBOLLE. METAL FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 562,877. Patented June 30, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

EMILE J. .VITTEBOLLE, OF CAMDEN, NE JERSEY.

METAL-FOLDlNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,877, dated June 30, 1896.

Application filed September 10, 1895. Serial No. 562,034. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMILE J. WITTEBOLLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of Camden, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal-Folding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for folding the edges of sheet metal or like articles, and the object of my invention is to furnish a machine for this purpose in which the folding-plate or former will be automatically withdrawn while the edge of the sheet is being folded without it being necessary to raise the sheet from its supporting bed or table in order to free it from the folding-plate or former.

1n the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a plan of a metal-bending machine embodying my improvements; Fig. 2, a section of Fig. 1 on line 2 .2; Fig. 3, a section of Fig. 1 on line 12 1 the leaf and folding-plate being raised vertically; Fig. 4, a section of Fig. l on line y y, the lug on folding-plate just engaging the cam; Fig. 5, a similar view, the leaf being drawn all the way back and the folding-plate withdrawn from the folded edge of the metal; Fig. 6, a section of Fig. 1 on line as m; Fig. 7, a section of Fig. 1 on line 11; 20; Fig. 8, a perspective view of the adjustable stop placed between the folding-plate and leaf; Fig. 9, views of a sheet of metal, showing the several bends which may be given to its edge by the machine and Fig. 10, a view of a modification of the machine.

A is the framework of the machine; B, a table carried by the frame A; G, a leaf furnished with trunnions D, which are carried in bearings E, carried by frame A.

F is a lever by means of which leaf C and its connected parts may be caused to turn in bearings E.

G is a folder-plate carried by leaf 0; I, an adjustable stop interposed between folderplate G and leaf 0.

The folder-plate G is furnished with lugs H, (best shown in Fig. 6,) which may be attached to or form part of this plate, and which pass into slots J in leaf C, a nut or keeper K holding them in place.

L are lugs carried by the upper part of folder-plate, which are adapted to engage stops M when the leaf C is rocked forward in order to push the folder-plate backward and out from between the folded edge of the sheet of metal.

The stops M are adjustable, so as to cause the folder-plate to be moved away from the edge of the sheet of metal at any time during the bending. In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7they are carried on the ends of a bar N, and screws 0, carried on brackets P, are used to hold this bar in any position. In Fig. 10 these stops are shown carried by the sides of the table B, the rear end of which, in this case, is pivoted at B, and the forward end of which is supported by a screw 0, by means of which the forward end and the stops M may be raised or lowered as desired.

In operating the device, the leaf 0 being in the position shown in Fig. 2, the sheet of metal or other article the edge of which is to be bent is placed on table B and its edge is run in between the foward edge of foldingplate and leaf C- until it strikes the forward end of the adjustable stop I. The foldingplate and leaf 0 are now, by means of lever F, turned in the bearings E, the front edges of the foldingplate and leaf turning around the rear upper edge of the table B and carry ing with them and bending the edge of the sheet ofmetal that is between them. The leaf 0 and plate G are turned until the lugs L, carried by the plate G, engage the stops M, which are now forced backward, carrying with them the plate G until the forward edge of this plate is completely withdrawn from the folded edge of the sheet of metal. This is done without it being necessary to lift or move the sheet of metal in any way from or on the table B. The edge of the sheet of metal having been turned over as de scribed and plate G withdrawn from it, a f urther downward movement of lever F causes the bent edge of the sheet to be pinched between the edge of table B and leaf 0, and if desired the bent edge may thus be completely flattened. When the leaf 0 is returned by lever F to its first position, the rear end of the folding-plate is engaged by the stops R,

edge of the metal sheet. By means of a screw and nuts S this stop may be moved in or out to vary the fold as desired. In order to permit the passage and play of the lugs II on former-plate G, the stop I is preferably formed as best shown in Fig. 8.

In Fig. 9 the different folds that may be given to the edge of the sheet of metal are shown. In this figure 1 represents the sheet of metal beforefolding; 2, a right-angular bend on the end of the sheet; 3, a bend of about one hundred and thirty-five degrees and 4 a complete bend or fold.

, I claim 1. In a device for folding the edge of a metal sheet or like article, in combination, a bed or table, a pivoted leaf adapted to be moved around the forward end of said table, a movable folding-plate carried by said leaf,

lugs carried by said folding-plate, and stops lugs carried by said folding-plate,stops adapt ed to engage said lugs when said leaf is rocked forward in order to force them and the folding-plate backward thereby withdrawing said folding-plate from the folded sheet of metal, and means whereby said stops may be raised or lowered in order to cause a greater or less movement of said folding-plate.

3. In a device for folding the edge of a sheet of metal or like article, in combination,

a bed or table, a pivoted leaf adapted to be revolved around the forward end of said table, a folding-plate carried by said leaf, lugs carried by said folding-plate, stops adapted to engage said lugs when said leaf is rocked forward in order to force them and the foldingplate backward thereby withdrawing the fold ing-plate from the folded sheet of metal, and cam-like stops adapted to engage the rear end of the folding-plate to move it to its first position when said pivoted leaf is being rocked back to its first position.

4. In a device for folding the edge of a sheet of metal or like article, in combination. a bed or table, a leaf adapted to be revolved around the forward end of said table, a folding-plate carried by said leaf and adapted to move backward and forward thereon, a stop interposed between, said leaf and foldingplate, means for setting said stop in or out. lugs carried by said folding-plate, and adj ust able stops adapted to engage said lugs, all

substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

EMILE J. WITTEBOLLE.

W'itnesses:

MORRIS R. BooKIUs, CHAS. A. BUTTER. 

